Self-leveling berth



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.l

L. J. BAKER.

SELF LEYBLING BERTH. 616.269,616. Patented D66. 26. 1662.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT Teton.

BORING J. BAKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-LEVELING BERTI-l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,618, dated December 26, 1882.

Application tiled August Q4, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, LoRlNG J. BAKER, ot Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Self-Leveling Berths; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' thel same.

My invention is an improvement in berths for ships and other sea-goingcratt of the class in which the berth is hinged so as to permit .tree motion and maintain a horizontal position when the ship pitches or rolls.

The improvements are more particularly applicable to the form of berth shown in an application tiled by me in the United States Patent Oftice on the 4th day of May, 1882.

They relate, rst, to an improvement in the transverse pivoting-rod of the berth, whereby the support is shifted to a point forward ofthe central pivoting-'rod to compensate for the extra weight toward the head ofthe berth.

They relate; in the second place, to improved locking device for holding the berth in any given position.

In the third place the improvements relate to the supporting-bracket,whereby lateral rocking movement is permitted the berth, but longitudinal movementprevented.

They relate, fourth, to improved devices for suspending the rocking frame; and, tit'th, to an improved mode of connecting the yokes and side bars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan `view ofthe berth; Fig. 2, a rear side elevation; Fig. 3, a section on line a' of Fig. 1, Fig. 4, a longitudinal section on line y y, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detached view ot' the bracket in plan and section. Fig. 6 is a view showing connection between side bars and yokes.

In these drawings, A represents the berth, of ordinary construction. It is supported directly upon a rod, b, on which it rocks in vertical longitudinal plane. This rod is tixe'd in side bars, c c, suspended by yokes d d, these being pivoted to the ends ofthe side bars.

y In the construction shown in my said application the whole weight ot' the person occupying the berth was thrown upon the central transverse rod, b, and as the greater weight ofthe occupant is at the head it has been found necessary to place a weight at the foot of the berth in order to counterbalance this increased weight at the head.

(No model.)

In order to obviate the vnecessity ot' using weights, I have fixed to the rod b a strong arm, m, preferably toward the head. This arm is preferably a flat metallic bar, and is provided with two rows ot' holes, in which are set vertical pins n, and these pins may be set in any ot' the holes, so as to throw the weight nearer to or farther from the rod b. Upon the upper ends of these pins, which may be pointed,rest the inner edges of the bottom pieces or slats, o o, of the berth. The outer edges are supported in grooves or on beads on the edge ot" the bottom ofthe berth. The pins n are high enough to support these slats or bottom pieces a sufficient distance above the rod b to prevent them from touching said rod in any ordinary position ofthe berth. This throws the weight of the person upon thcv arm m, and consequently at a distance from said arm toward the head of the bed, and this distance may be regulated by the position of the pins according to the requirements of the occupant. The support heilig nearer the center ot' gravity, the berth is kept in horizontal position without the use of weights, and when the occupant leaves the berth it remains level, as it is then balanced on the bar. Instead of these pins, l may have an anti-friction roller or a spring.

In place of thc notched bar and latch in my former'application, I have provided as a simpler device a pivoted arm anda holding-screw. This arm is shown at p. It is a round rod fixed to a cross-piece, p', which is pivoted in ears on the side of the state-room, the rod 1) being preferably in line with the rod b. The rod p passes through a hole in a block, q, mov ing freely therein when not held by the set- Screw 2. Just below the hole through which the rod p passes in the block q is a transverse hole at right angles to the tirst, through which passes the rod 1 of the bracket 1i, the block having free lateral movement upon the rod i'. A loose pin, 3", is placed in a hole bored through from the hole which receives the rod p to that which receives the rod r, the pin being so adjusted that when the set-screw is pressed down 011 the rod p it shall through that rod press upon the pin and press the pin against the rod r, so that the set-screw may tix the block to both rods at the same time. side of the rear ot' the berth, and the lower part is bent to the rear, so that the set-screw may rise withoutcomiug in contact with the The bracket It is attached to the under y IOO berth. It will be apparent that when the setscrew is loose the berth may swing laterally, the rod p slipping freely through the block q, which then turns upon the rod r, and when the berth swings longitudinallythe block slides upon the rod r,- but the same set-screw holds them in any position, and thus locks the berth against rocking or swinging in any direction.

I have also modified and simplified the device which holds theV ripper part ot' the berth.

The bracket described in my former application, adapted for the purpose of pivoting the upper part of the berth and allowing it to swing laterally while giving an uppe'bearingpoint for the longitudinal swing, consisted of a double-jointed bracket.

The device shown in this application consist s of a bracket having two telescoping parts, the tubular part S being pivoted to the wall ot' the state-room by long bearings, while the part s, which carries the pivot 13, slides in the tubular part and permits lateral rocking movement of the berth, butno longitudinal movement of the pivot I3. This device is thesatne in operation as that described in my aforesaid alfiplication, but is of simpler construction.

In order to protect the feet and head ofthe occupant from contact with the vokes which support the berth, I attach to the foot and head a sheet, F, of artificial leather or some similar material which extends up and covers the said yokes, but which, as it is attached to the head and foot of the berth, moves with the berth and remains constantly in proper position.

1n my former application heretofore referred to the rods or links by which the yoke was suspended from the ends ot' the state-rooms or walls were attached to the wall by Iixed staples, thus maintaining the links always at the same angle.

lt will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the centerof motion when the berth rocks laterally will be at a point where the lilies 0f the rods prolonged would intersect. The ease with which the berth uwould rock would depend upon the distance of this point above the weight in the berth, the berth rocking more reatlilythe longer the leverage between the,A point aforesaid and the weight below it. In order to adjustthis at will I have provided adjustable supports for the upper ends ot' the links. 'lhese consist of plates G G, provided with slots 4, formed upon a curve, of which the point o't' intersection of the two links prolonged is the center. The plate G is provided with a hook, 5, the end of which is in line with the inner face ot' the plate, and which when the plate is set against the wall bears also against the wall and holds the link securely in place, as shown in Fig. 3. These plates are held to the wall by bolts set therein and nuts (i, which bear against the face of the plate. rIhese plates may therefore be shifted readily to anyreqnired position. Ordinarilythe rods will be inclined at an angle ot' about fortvtive degrees from the perpendicular'. I prefer to connect the lower ends of the links to the yoke by means of two staples, 7 7,instead of one elongated staple. It will be understood, now, that the berth is permitted a free lateral movement, since the links can turn both at top and bottom in the hook 5 and staple 7,so that thc relative position of such links will be changed according to the direction in which the berth oscilla-tes. For instance, referring to Fig. 3, should the lett side of the berth be depressed, the link on that side would approach a little. nearer to the perpendicular, while the inclination of the other link would increase, as will be readily apparent.

Instead of connecting the side bars, d d, to the cndsof the yokcs byapin passing through holesin the overlapping ends, I have provided an adjustable connection. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 6.) In this construction the end of the bar d has a series of notches, as shown at S, and the ends of the vokes are provided with pins 9, over which the notched ends rest, with the pin in any desired notch. By means ot' this connection theinclination oftheyokes may be changed and the longitudinal swing increased or diminished.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a berth and a transverse pivoting-rod supported on suitable side bars, an arm, m, projecting toward the head ot' the berth and provided with suitable supporting devices 'for the bed-bottom, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the berth, the pivoted rod j?, adapted to swingin vertical plane, the bracketlt, with the rod r, the perforated block g, and a device for holding the block in any position upon the rod Vp, and the rod 1', substantially as described.

i). rlhc combination of the pivoted rodp, adapted to swing in vertical plane, and the bracket 1t r, the block q, sliding upon these parts, as described, the set-screwp, and the' pin 3, substantially as described.

fl. The combination ofthe berth, the yokes, and suitable intermediate supporting devices, the links and adjustable brackets, whereby the inclination ot the links maybe varied, substantially as described.

5. The combination ol the yokes, supporting-links, the brackets G, having slots and hooks 5, and the side bars, c, the parts being connected to the wall and to the berth, substantially as described.

6. lhe combination ot' the berth with the notched side bars c, and the yokes having pins 9, such vokes being connected to the wall, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof Iliave signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IiOltlNtl- J'. BAKER.

Witnesses:

F. L. MInDLEToN, W. T. JonssoN.

IOO

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